On April 13, 2012, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Liu Weimin held a press conference.

Q: State Councillor Liu Yandong is on a visit to the UK, and Li Changchun, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, will also visit the UK soon. Please give us some details.

A: State Councillor Liu Yandong started her visit to the UK, the EU headquarters, Belgium and Cyprus on April 12. During her visit to the UK, State Councillor Liu Yandong will co-chair the first meeting of China-UK high-level people-to-people exchange mechanism with the British side and attend London Book Fair guest of honor activities. Please refer to the International Department of the Central Committee of the CPC for details about Li Changchun's visit to the UK.

Q: Guinea-Bissau's military reportedly announced its control over the government. How do you comment on the situation in Guinea-Bissau?

A: China is shocked at the military's announcement of control over the government in Guinea-Bissau and expresses concern over its impact on the political and security situation in Guinea-Bissau. We will make further assessment of Guinea-Bissau's situation according to the developments there.

Q: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that the Security Council is preparing to send a monitoring mission to Syria to observe the ceasefire as soon as possible. What's China's stance toward that?

A: Actively supporting and cooperating with the mediation of Special Envoy Annan, China is willing to join hands with other parties to promote all parties in Syria to maintain ceasefire, ease the tension in Syria and push forward political dialogue, in a bid to reach a fair, peaceful, and proper resolution of the Syrian issue at an early date and safeguard peace and stability of the Middle East. China supports any efforts conducive to ending violence and advancing political dialogue, and will continue to adopt a constructive attitude in relevant discussions within the Security Council.

Q: The DPRK announced the failure of its satellite launch, how does China comment? Secondly, the UN Security Council will have an emergency consultation over the DPRK's rocket launch this evening, Beijing time. What's China's position?

A: China has taken note of the DPRK's satellite launch as well as reactions from parties concerned. We hope all parties concerned well exercise calmness and restraint, not to engage in any move that will undermine peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula as well as the region, adhere to engagement and dialogue so as to jointly safeguard peace and stability of the Peninsula and the region as a whole.

On your second question, China believes that under the current circumstances, the words and deeds of the international community should help to maintain peace and stability of the Peninsula and the region.

Q: It is known that Japanese and the ROK ambassadors came to the Chinese Foreign Ministry today. Did they communicate with the Chinese side over the DPRK's satellite launch?

A: On the DPRK satellite launch, China has stayed in communication and coordination with the DPRK, Russia, the US, Japan and the ROK, and we will continue to do that.

Q: If the DPRK announces another nuclear test, will China support sanctions against the DPRK?

A: China always upholds the denuclearization on the Peninsula which serves the common interests of all parties concerned. This position of China remains unchanged.

Q: Does China believe the DPRK's satellite launch is a failure? Did the DPRK communicate with China ahead of the launch?

A: China noted that the DPRK had released information of the satellite launch. Earlier, the DPRK announced that it would launch the satellite between April 12 to 16. According to my knowledge, China has not received any specific notification ahead of the launch.

Q: After the DPRK announced its satellite launch plan, what has China done? And what will be China's future steps?

A: After the DPRK announced its satellite launch plan, China expressed concerns and worries. Over the past days, we have had discussions and stayed in close communication with parties concerned including the DPRK, Russia, the US, the ROK and Japan. China stressed that maintaining peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia serves the common interest of parties concerned and constitutes the common responsibility of all. We hope parties concerned proceed from the overall and long-term interest, exercise calmness and restraint, and make joint efforts to properly handle the current situation. Under the current circumstances, we will continue to stay in communication and coordination with other parties and jointly endeavor to safeguard regional peace and stability.

Q: It is learned that Chinese and Indian foreign ministers will meet on the sidelines of the China-Russia-India foreign ministers' meeting in Moscow. Please share the specifics with us . Will the two sides discuss the South China Sea issue?

A: The 11th China-Russia-India Foreign Ministers Meeting is held in Moscow today, and is attended by Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi as head of the Chinese delegation. During the meeting, the ministers will exchange views on international and regional issues of common interest as well as deepening trilateral practical cooperation. China believes the meeting will help enhance trilateral political mutual trust and further advance trilateral practical cooperation. As to whether China and India will discuss the issue you just mentioned, I am unaware of the specifics now. I believe relevant information will be released soon.

Q: Given the ongoing border conflict between South Sudan and Sudan, the UN Security Council issued a presidential statement yesterday. How does China comment?

A: China is concerned over the tension in Sudan-South Sudan relations recently. We hope the two parties will cease fire immediately, exercise restraint, actively cooperate with the AU's mediation efforts, and peacefully resolve their disputes through political means including dialogue and negotiations. They should respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of each other. South Sudan should immediately withdraw troops from the Sudanese territory, and the Sudanese forces should stop military violence as well. China supports the leading role played by the AU high-level enforcement team in the mediation and believes the international community should create an enabling environment for that.

Q: Are there any developments of the standoff between Chinese and the Philippine vessels in waters off the Huangyan Island?

A: The Huangyan Island is China's inherent territory. The cause of this incident is the Philippine side harassed Chinese fishermen and fishing boats, violated Chinese sovereignty and contravened the consensus of safeguarding peace and stability of the South China Sea and not complicating or amplifying the situation. China has lodged solemn protests to the Philippines both in Beijing and Manila. China's dispatch of public service ships is a normal law-enforcement activity in order to safeguard the safety of Chinese fishermen and fishing boats. We urge the Philippine side to proceed from the China-Philippine friendly relations, and make joint efforts with China so as to properly resolve the incident as soon as possible, safeguard peace and stability of the South China Sea, and create favorable conditions for a sound and stable development of bilateral relations.

Q: Please brief us on the specific itinerary of Premier Wen Jiabao's European tour. Which officials will be among the entourage?

A: We have released the information that Premier Wen Jiabao will visit Iceland, Sweden, Poland and attend the opening ceremony of the Hanover Fair in Germany from April 20 to 27. The Foreign Ministry will hold a press briefing next Monday afternoon about this visit, and your presence is welcome.

Q: It is reported that a Chinese maritime surveillance aircraft approached a Japanese destroyer of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces near the so-called "median line" in the East China Sea. Please confirm.

A: We have noted relevant reports that are untrue. It is learned that the Chinese maritime surveillance aircraft is performing normal activities above the waters within China's jurisdiction in the East China Sea, and has abided by internationally-recognized rules for preventing collisions. China does not accept the so-called "median line" and has never drawn the "median line" with Japan in the East China Sea.